The Greatest Villainess (Completed)

Chapter 47

Third Person's POV

The entire palace was bustling with activity. Every servant and guard moved with purpose, preparing for the departure. The knights had assembled, their armor gleaming under the early morning light as they stood in formation, awaiting their orders. The Emperor was at the front, his figure imposing as he surveyed his knights. With each passing moment, the atmosphere grew heavier, tension building like an invisible weight pressing down on everyone present.

As dawn fully broke, the Emperor took the lead, with the Duke beside him, ready to march into battle. Behind them stood the Empress, a calm yet unwavering presence. She watched them with an unreadable expression, her gaze following every move with a mix of pride and anxiety. As the Emperor prepared to depart, he turned to his wife, approaching her with a softness that belied his usual stoic demeanor. He took her hand, brushing his lips over her fingers before pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. He looked at her intently, studying her face as though he wanted to commit every feature to memory. "Be careful, wife," he said in a low, gentle voice that only she could hear.

The Empress gave him a small, reassuring smile and nodded. "You should be the one to take care… I'll be waiting for you," she replied softly. Rising on her toes, she leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, a brief yet intimate gesture that he returned, their connection unspoken yet deeply felt.

The Emperor then mounted his horse, raising his hand to signal his knights as they began their departure. The Empress stood back, watching them disappear through the towering palace gates, the sound of hooves echoing against the cobblestones. She remained there, a silent figure framed by the high palace walls, her heart pounding with a mixture of apprehension and confidence. She knew her husband would fight with all his strength, and yet, a faint worry lingered in her chest.

Elsewhere, deep within the shadows of the dungeon, a sinister laugh echoed through the cold, damp walls. A woman, chained but very much alive with spite and madness, leaned forward, her eyes alight with dark amusement. "So, the Empress is now alone?" she confirmed, her voice dripping with anticipation and a twisted excitement.

"Yes, My Lady," replied a knight, his head bowed respectfully, unwilling to meet her eyes. The woman bit her lip, her expression shifting from amusement to a twisted joy as her mind raced with possibilities. "Fools!" she sneered, her laughter bubbling up, a crazed, unhinged sound that bounced off the stone walls.

Her impatience was almost tangible as she clutched the cold bars of her cell. She could already envision her revenge unfolding, her heart pounding with exhilaration. Memories of past grievances and humiliations filled her thoughts, each one fanning the flames of her rage. Her blood seemed to ignite as her anger intensified, consumed by a burning desire to see the Empress fall.

Flashback...

The room echoed with the loud cries and sobbing of a young boy, Joshua, who had just endured another brutal round of physical abuse from his father. His tiny, fragile body was marred with fresh bruises, layered upon old ones that had barely begun to fade. At only six years old, Joshua had already endured a lifetime of suffering. He was haunted not only by the trauma of losing his mother but by the violence that had plagued her too, as she had suffered under the same cruel hand. His mother’s memory was a painful reminder of everything he’d lost—and everything he was still enduring.

Every night was a repeat of the same nightmare. His father would stagger home, reeking of alcohol, and any small thing—an untidy room, a misplaced toy, or even Joshua’s mere presence—could spark his father’s fury. Joshua would try to shrink into the shadows, hoping to escape notice, but the violence was inevitable. Slaps, punches, kicks—each one a reminder that there was no refuge in his own home. He had learned quickly to be silent in his suffering, but on nights like this, the pain was too much to bear.